Northstar Engines and System Technical Discussion Discussion, 150 miles in limp home mode in Cadillac Engine Technical Discussion; Was driving back to my dorm tonight and a ford escort ran a red light at an intersection i was ...

150 miles in limp home mode

Was driving back to my dorm tonight and a ford escort ran a red light at an intersection i was crossing. Long story short, the escort had its whole passenger side smashed in, bloody passengers and spun 180 degrees. I'm perfectly safe.

The car runs fine. drove it onto the rollback with ease. Since the radiator is MIA, theres no coolant flow. I need to get this car home, a 150 mile drive. Limp home mode is suggested for 50 miles at 50mph only, but i need 150 miles at around 70mph for the interstate. nighttime temperatures reach around 30 degrees here.

Anyone think the drive can be made? I can take a state highway home as well, but the distance wont change any, may increase by 20 miles or so.

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

lets see
would i risk my 5K engine....
you realize if (and when i say IF i mean WHEN if you attempt this) YOU blow up the engine becuase YOU drove it, it wont matter that someone else was at fault resulting in the coolant loss, youll be footing the bill...
i think the answer here is REALLY common sence...

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

Bummer. I wouldn't try the limp home, at that distance, on a bet. What you face is a logistic nightmare : Is it cheaper (relatively) for you to go "home" and find a rollon near your shop, or do you have someone from the scene bring it home ? There's always the slim chance that something else might be bent/broken....suspension ?

Mechanically, I'd recommend the truck. BTW, you can go after the Escort's insurance carrier.......

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

Originally Posted by tman2093

Was driving back to my dorm tonight and a ford escort ran a red light at an intersection i was crossing. Long story short, the escort had its whole passenger side smashed in, bloody passengers and spun 180 degrees. I'm perfectly safe.

The car runs fine. drove it onto the rollback with ease. Since the radiator is MIA, theres no coolant flow. I need to get this car home, a 150 mile drive. Limp home mode is suggested for 50 miles at 50mph only, but i need 150 miles at around 70mph for the interstate. nighttime temperatures reach around 30 degrees here.

Anyone think the drive can be made? I can take a state highway home as well, but the distance wont change any, may increase by 20 miles or so.

Can you please tell me what Limp Home Mode is in your opinion.

Just think a little.
You will have no way to cool the engine other than air flowing across the engine.
How hot will the oil get?
Will the oil still work?

Hmmm Why take a chance?

If you were out on the town and got drunk would you still drive?
You can alway find another way to get from A to B.
This leads to the Spare tire deal. GM needs to get rid of them and GM is Slowly. If you get a flat and you don't have a spare it is not the end of the world. If you have a spare it maybe the end of your life. That is a fact. The spare tire deal is like Points vs Electronic ignition. You can't get out and adjust Electronic ignition and get the car running again like you could points.

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

Sounds like the car is probably totaled, so what the hell, right? If you're gonna try it, first change the oil to 60 weight racing oil or even 70 weight if you can find it. Make sure the engine is warm when you change it and leave soon after, because if it gets below 60F you won't be able to start it. Let us know what happens. Heeheehee

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

Limp home is a restricted mode of engine operation when a specific series of emissions or cooling trouble codes occur. Limp home applies to timing, mixture, and cylinder dropping, and will allow limited (50 mile) operation with cooling troubles.

Camel mode was the attempt at dropping ignition to alternating cylinders to allow early N*'s to go somewhat more than limited distances with poor cooling. I think the idea was dropped until VVT became standard.

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

I suppose I mean camel mode and not limp home. Yes its probably stupid when I think rationally, I just can't help but think I remember Motor Trend going long distance with no coolant with no harm done other than needing an oil change. I mean the cars most likely to be totaled by insurance, so I considered what I guess is a suicide run. If I can buy it back from the insurance company at a reasonable price I'll part it out. The Northstar is still running, I know plenty of people here want one.

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

Originally Posted by tman2093

I suppose I mean camel mode and not limp home. Yes its probably stupid when I think rationally, I just can't help but think I remember Motor Trend going long distance with no coolant with no harm done other than needing an oil change. I mean the cars most likely to be totaled by insurance, so I considered what I guess is a suicide run. If I can buy it back from the insurance company at a reasonable price I'll part it out. The Northstar is still running, I know plenty of people here want one.

Re: 150 miles in limp home mode

I am not sure where the OP is located, but here in NJ, you can forget about it. Let's put the "is it okay for the engine" thing aside for now. Let's only mention the body damage to the car. Here in NJ, if you have that kind of damage (bumper cover gone, headlights broken, etc) it is unlawful to drive on the street, let alone a highway. You will probably be pulled over in less than 10 miles. Then the LEO calls a tow truck, and you get towed to God knows where. Then you will need a tow truck to pick up the car, and bring it wherever you want it to go. So in the long run, it would be less $ and trouble, to just get it towed to the destination.